LEfty’s Tie Fest

Thanks Everyone!

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, Fly Tying, The Fly Fishing Show, Uncategorized, Winter November 20, 2016Big Gunpowder Falls, DC Fishing, Flies for big gunpowder Falls, flyfishing, Gunpowder Falls fishing report, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Knee Deep Fly Fishing, LEfty's Tie Fest, Maryland Fishing Guide, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, The Fly Fishing Show

No, I didn’t update my website before I left DC and headed to NJ for the International Fly Tying Symposium. YES, I caught a lot of grief for not doing so.

After a crazy summer where I managed to guide and be home enough that my children recognized me I didn’t update kneedeepff.com much. My log-ins were so infrequent that I had to reset my password. I promise to try to update more often so you have something to do this winter.

So, was the symposium good? No. It was GREAT! Seeing everyone after so long is like going back to camp for us adults; though I never went to camp. “The Tying Show” is a unique opportunity to share some time watching the originators of the patterns you fish with actually tie them in front of you. If you came to my table, maybe you even got to tie one yourself. That was a riot and I appreciate everyone who took me up on the offer. Thanks to Peak for getting me a second vise on the shortest notice ever! I also couldn’t have done it without the help of Dr Slick who keeps my supply of sharp scissors going strong.

After such a great weekend tying with my heroes (do you guys feel old yet?) the high comes to quite a crash after I get into the truck and hit the road for a few hours by myself. Suddenly, I find myself alone and listening to Christmas music, somewhere on the Turnpike. After 4 hours I’m home unpacking and taking out the trash wile tripping over toys again. It only makes me appreciate the crowd that came out and the family that travels with the winter show circuit even more.

Thank you to everyone who came out, everyone that set it up and tore it down, and the family of tiers and exhibitors that makes the shows such a great time. The entire community (new friends included) makes up a great family that I look forward to catching up with every season.

I’ll see you all in February back in Somerset!

Micah

PS:

Did you know we’re on Facebook, Instagram, and even Twitter? Check us out and friend/favorite/follow us!

What a Long Strange Trip!

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, fishing, Fly Tying, Shows/Expos, The Fly Fishing Show January 31, 2015Big Gunpowder Falls, Eastern Trophy Tailwaters, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, Fly Fishing Show, Gunpowder Falls fishing report, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, LEfty's Tie Fest, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, The Fly Fishing Show, tie-fest, Tom Gilmore

It’s been busy over at Knee Deep Headquarters for the past few months. We’ve added a second intern here at the “office” and the buildup kept us pretty busy for a while. Now that there are two interns here, we’re having a ball cleaning up spills and changing diapers.

It was great to see everyone at the NJ Fly Fishing Show. Thanks to everyone who asked to see baby pictures and brought me coffee! I was lucky enough to sit with my old pal Matt Grobert. We rarely get to see each other outside of show season but it’s like it was last week every time we catch up. He’s been a good role model of mine since I was a kid (he’s not that old) and nobody enjoys sharing the art of fly tying and fishing more than Matt. I can’t wait to see everyone again at Lancaster!

Hey, you East coasters, there’s a new book out by Tom Gilmore just for us and I’m IN IT! I can’t believe it either. Tom must not have been thinking straight when he asked for some input on The Big Gunpowder; I’m grateful for his lapse in judgment. Call your local shop and ask them to get you a copy…then plan a road trip to some new water. It’s got all the info you need on the how and where andsome great extras like real maps! (imagine a guide book with usable maps!)

We’ll see you at Tie fest and Lancaster soon!

-Micah and the expanding crew

What I Did Last Summer

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, Fall, fishing report, Summer, Trout, Uncategorized September 4, 2014Big Gunpowder Falls, Capitol Hill, DC Fishing, flies for gunpowder falls, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, Gunpowder, Gunpowder Falls fishing report, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, insects, Knee Deep Fly Fishing, LEfty's Tie Fest, Maryland DNR, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, Streamer Fishing, Sulfur hatch, The Fly Fishing Show, Trico fishing, trico hatch, Tricos, trout fishing

Remember those school days writing essays about all the places your parents trucked you to as a child. I sure do. It was like a reminder that you didn’t kick back and enjoy summer enough and now you were going to be strapped to a desk until it came around again. Thankfully we’re almost grown up and don’t have to sit in the back of the family wagon anymore.

I’m happy to report that, while we’ve had great summer fishing on The Big Gunpowder Falls, there’s plenty of summer left! We’ve had lots of cold water all season with higher than normal flows coming from Prettyboy Reservoir. This means there have been some cold days on the river and a few where the trout have been tight lipped. Midge fishing has saved the day more than a handful of times this year. Even in the coldest temps, they find a way to stay active. Of course, while we haven’t had tons of updates on the kneedeepff.com, you’ve been following us on Facebook and Twitter, so you know we’ve been lucky enough to travel a bit this summer….right?

Looking ahead, we’ve still got a few openings, so think about catching that cold you’ve been fighting. There’s plenty of terrestrial fishing to be had and the Tricos have started emerging. There’s even some fall caddis action to be had as we get into October. Give us a call and get a date on the books before summer passes you by. (202) 681-8765 or email us at info@kneedeepff.com

Special thanks to everyone who’s helped keep Knee Deep busy this season.

Tight lines,

Micah

A filmmaker needs your help

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized March 13, 2013Great Salmon Tour, Knee Deep Fly Fishing, LEfty's Tie Fest, Salmon, tie-fest, trout fishing

I met Peter Johnsen at Tie Fest last weekend. He’s working on a film project that sounds pretty cool. His “Great Salmon Tour” is setting out to “document the diversity of salmon and explore the deep cultural and personal connections we humans have to these fish.” That sounds good to me. I happen to have a deep cultural connection to fish

Check out the clip on his Kickstarter page. It looks promising. Maybe skip the mocafrapachino this afternoon and send that $4 his way. He’s already off to a good start. If it goes well, maybe there’ll be a brook trout film in the future.

Keep your tip on the water,

Micah

Thank You!

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized March 12, 2013Knee Deep Fly Fishing, Knee Deep fly Fishing LLC, LEfty's Tie Fest, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, The Fly Fishing Show, tie-fest, winter, Winter Fly Fishing

For us here at Knee Deep (it’s a group effort) the show and expo circuit is wrapping up and, while sitting in a pile of boxes, plastic tubs, and extension cords, it’s nice to know that the air is warming up outside. Traveling to the shows and meeting so many anglers has been rewarding. It’s especially refreshing to meet new anglers and see their enthusiasm. Nothing makes you want to hit the water like hearing someone talk about their first trout on the fly. For those who really get the fly fishing bug, that feeling is the same for every fish caught after that first one.

For me the winter is a time to see old friends from near and far. As a kid, it was when family would come to town and we’d fish tiny streams for brook trout up in NJ. Nowadays, it’s a reminder of all the great fishermen (and women!) that I’ve been lucky enough to have fished with in the last 25 years and who’ve shaped who I’ve become. One pal I tied next to at the shows has known me since I was a 10 year old kid riding my bike to the river with a fly rod in hand. Some of the guys who let me tag along on trips to NY state all those years ago came to see me in in NJ and there is no way to describe how fantastic that feels. They’re still letting me tag along on their fishing adventures all these years later. It’s all been a reminder that the fly fishing family is very large but has a great spirit and will continue on for many years down the road.

Last but not least, during this season’s show circuit I’ve met so many supportive spouses along the way. Some of us have wives who may or may not fish but are supportive enough to set us free from the house every once in a while to share angling with others. Maybe it’s easier to let us run than listen to grumble while painting the house or working on the car. I don’t know how they live with us sometimes. I know I couldn’t have done it without my wife and I’m sure there are many other fishermen out there who feel the same way. Thanks Dear!

Thank you to everyone who attended the shows and stopped by to say “Hello” this winter. Knee Deep Fly Fishing wouldn’t be here without you.

Keep your tip on the water!

Sincerely,

Micah

Lefty’s Tie Fest This Weekend!

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized March 7, 2013March 8, 2013Big Gunpowder Falls, CCA, CCA Maryland, DC Fishing, DC Fishing Guide, DC Fly tying, fly fishing gunpowder falls, flyfishing, Knee Deep Fly Fishing, LEfty's Tie Fest, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, tie-fest, Tiefest, Washington DC Fly Fishing Guide

Tie Fest Is almost here! Saturday is THE day to go get your tying fix with some of fly fishing’s most addicted tiers. There will be people tying, telling big fish tales, and shops showing off their gear. I’ll be there tying and telling some of the hardest to believe stories. IT’s going to be a fun day and I hear the facility will have a great restaurant with tasty grub AND a bar. What more could you ask for?

Get yourself there!

Micah & The Knee Deep Team